Robot cleaner, maintenance station, and cleaning system having the same

ABSTRACT

A robot cleaner includes a body; a dust box to store dust; and a dust sensing unit to detect dust stored in the dust box, the dust sensing unit including a light emitting unit to transmit a signal to an interior of the dust box and a light receiving sensor to sense the signal transmitted by the light emitting unit. The light emitting unit and the light receiving sensor are positioned between the dust box and the body, and face each other at the same height.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos.P2010-68670 and P2010-108235, respectively filed on Jul. 15, 2010 andNov. 2, 2010 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosuresof which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system for performinga cleaning operation using an autonomous robot.

2. Description of the Related Art

An autonomous robot is a device for performing a desired task whiletraveling about a certain region without being operated by a user. Sucha robot may substantially operate autonomously. Autonomous operation maybe achieved in various manners. In particular, a robot cleaner is adevice for removing dust from a floor while traveling about a region tobe cleaned without being operated by a user. In detail, such a robotcleaner may perform a vacuum cleaning operation and a wiping operationin a home. Here, dust may mean (soil) dust, mote, powder, debris, andother dust particles.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide acleaning system capable of preventing the cleaning performance of arobot cleaner from being degraded.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows and, in part, will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a robot cleanerincludes a body having an opening, a dust box provided at the body, tostore dust, and a brush unit provided at the opening of the body, tosweep dust on a floor into the dust box, wherein the dust swept into thedust box is suspended in air introduced into the dust box through theopening of the body, and is then discharged through the opening of thebody.

The air may be introduced into the dust body through a side region ofthe opening of the body, and may then be outwardly discharged through acentral region of the opening of the body.

The robot cleaner may further include a brush unit provided at the bodysuch that the brush unit is rotatable. The brush unit may be controlledto allow dust to be more effectively discharged.

The brush unit may include a roller, and the roller of the brush unitchanges a rotation direction at least one time during the dustdischarge.

During the dust discharge, the roller of the brush unit may rotateslowly in an initial period of time when light dust is discharged, andmay then rotate rapidly.

The robot cleaner may further include a maintenance station to generatea flow to discharge air toward the body, and a flow to suck air from thebody. The opening of the body may communicate with an opening providedat the maintenance station.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, amaintenance station blows air into a dust box included in a robotcleaner through an opening of the robot cleaner where a brush unit isinstalled, and sucks dust stored in the dust box while being suspendedin the air blown into the dust box.

The air sucked from the dust box of the robot cleaner may be re-blowninto the dust box through the opening of the robot cleaner.

The maintenance station may further include an opening to communicatewith the opening of the robot cleaner. The dust stored in the dust boxof the robot cleaner may be discharged to the opening of the robotcleaner, so as to be introduced into the opening of the maintenancestation.

The maintenance station may further include a pump unit, a suction ductprovided at a suction side of the pump unit, and a discharge ductprovided at a discharge side of the pump unit. The suction duct may havea suction port arranged at the opening of the maintenance station, andthe discharge duct may have a discharge port arranged at the opening ofthe maintenance station.

The maintenance station may further include a pump unit, a suction ductprovided at a suction side of the pump unit, and a discharge ductprovided at a discharge side of the pump unit. The suction duct may havea suction port arranged at the opening of the maintenance station. Thedischarge duct may have a discharge port. The suction port and thedischarge port may form the opening of the maintenance station.

The suction port of the suction duct may be formed at a large region ofthe opening in the maintenance station in a longitudinal direction ofthe opening, and the discharge port of the discharge duct may be formedat an end region of the opening as viewed in the longitudinal directionof the opening.

The suction port of the suction duct may have a larger cross-sectionalarea than the discharge port of the discharge duct.

The maintenance station may further include a dust box arranged betweenthe suction duct and the pump unit. Air discharged from the pump unitmay be circulated to the pump unit after sequentially passing throughthe discharge duct, the opening of the robot cleaner, the dust box ofthe robot cleaner, the opening of the robot cleaner, the suction duct,and the dust box of the maintenance station.

The discharge duct may include a first discharge duct having a firstdischarge port to allow air to be blown into a larger dust box includedin the dust box of the robot cleaner, and a second discharge port toallow air to be blown into a smaller dust box included in the dust boxof the robot cleaner.

The first and second discharge ports of the first discharge duct may bearranged at opposite ends of the second opening in a width direction inone side region of the second opening, respectively.

The discharge duct may include a second discharge duct having a thirddischarge port to allow air to be blown into a larger dust box includedin the dust box of the robot cleaner, and a fourth discharge port toallow air to be blown into a smaller dust box included in the dust boxof the robot cleaner.

The third and fourth discharge ports of the first discharge duct may bearranged at opposite ends of the second opening in a width direction inthe other side region of the second opening, respectively.

The maintenance station may further include a suction/discharge dualtube to guide air to be blown to a sensor provided at the robot cleanerand to be again sucked from the sensor.

The maintenance station may further include a pump unit, a suction ductprovided at a suction side of the pump unit, and a discharge ductprovided at a discharge side of the pump unit. The suction duct maycommunicate with a suction tube of the suction/discharge dual tube, andthe discharge duct may communicate with a discharge tube of thesuction/discharge dual tube.

The maintenance station may further include a pump unit, a suction ductprovided at a suction side of the pump unit, and a port assembly todivide the suction duct into two portions respectively having first andsecond suction ports.

The port assembly may include a suction port forming member to form thefirst and second suction ports.

The second suction port may surround at least a portion of the firstsuction port.

The first suction port may be provided at a position substantiallycorresponding to the opening of the robot cleaner. At least a portion ofthe second suction port is arranged outside the opening of the robotcleaner.

A cover having a plurality of through holes may be provided at thesecond suction port.

The maintenance station may further include a pump unit, first andsecond discharge ducts provided at a discharge side of the pump unit,and a port assembly to divide the first discharge duct into two portionsrespectively having first and second discharge ports, and to divide thesecond discharge duct into two portions respectively having third andfourth discharge ports.

The port assembly may include a first discharge port forming member toform the first discharge port, a second discharge port forming member toform the second discharge port, a third discharge port forming member toform the third discharge port, and a fourth discharge port formingmember to form the fourth discharge port.

The second suction port may surround at least a portion of each of thefirst, second, third and fourth discharge ports.

The port assembly may further include a plurality of brush cleaningmembers to clean the brush unit of the robot cleaner.

Each of the plural brush cleaning members may include a guide extendinginclinedly with respect to a rotation direction of the brush unit, andat least one hook protruded from a side surface of the guide.

The port assembly may be detachably mounted to the opening of themaintenance station.

The port assembly may further include a first spacer provided at abottom of the port assembly, and second spacers provided at oppositesides of the first spacer.

The opening of the maintenance station may be larger than the opening ofthe robot cleaner.

The maintenance station may further include a pump unit, and a suctionduct provided at a suction side of the pump unit. The suction duct mayhave a suction port, which is larger than the opening of the robotcleaner.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a cleaningsystem includes a robot cleaner including a first opening, and a firstdust box communicating with the first opening, and a maintenance stationincluding a second opening, and a second dust box communicating with thesecond opening, wherein dust stored in the first dust box of the robotcleaner is discharged to the second opening of the maintenance stationthrough the first opening of the robot cleaner after being suspended inair introduced into the first dust box of the robot cleaner.

The air introduced into the first dust box of the robot cleaner may passthrough the first opening of the robot cleaner.

The cleaning system may further include a dust removal unit to suck airfrom the first dust box of the robot cleaner through the first openingof the robot cleaner, and to again blow air to the first opening of therobot cleaner.

The dust removal unit may suck air such that the air blown to the firstopening of the robot cleaner emerges from the first opening of the robotcleaner after circulating through the first dust box of the robotcleaner.

The dust removal unit may blow air in a side region of the first openingof the robot cleaner as viewed in a longitudinal direction of the firstopening, and may suck air in a large region of the first opening asviewed in the longitudinal direction of the first opening.

The dust removal unit may include a pump unit, and a first dischargeduct provided at a discharge side of the pump unit. The first dischargeduct may have a first discharge port to allow air to be blown into alarger dust box included in the first dust box, and a second dischargeport to allow air to be blown into a smaller dust box included in thefirst dust box.

The dust removal unit may further include a second discharge ductprovided at the discharge side of the pump unit. The second dischargeduct may have a third discharge port to allow air to be blown into thelarger dust box of the first dust box, and a fourth discharge port toallow air to be blown into a smaller dust box included in the first dustbox.

The dust removal unit may include a pump unit, and a suction ductprovided at a suction side of the pump unit. The suction duct may have asuction port, which is larger than the opening of the robot cleaner.

The dust removal unit may include a pump unit, a suction duct providedat a suction side of the pump unit, first and second discharge ductsprovided at a discharge side of the pump unit, and a port assembly todivide the suction duct into two portions respectively having first andsecond suction ports, to divide the first discharge duct into twoportions respectively having first and second discharge ports, and todivide the second discharge duct into two portions respectively havingthird and fourth discharge ports.

The port assembly may include a suction port forming member to form thefirst and second suction ports, a first discharge port forming member toform the first discharge port, a second discharge port forming member toform the second discharge port, a third discharge port forming member toform the third discharge port, and a fourth discharge port formingmember to form the fourth discharge port.

The second suction port may surround the first suction port, the firstdischarge port, the second discharge port, the third discharge port, andthe fourth discharge port.

The dust removal unit may include a pump unit, a suction duct providedat a suction side of the pump unit, and a discharge duct provided at adischarge side of the pump unit. The suction duct may have a suctionport arranged in a large region of the first opening of the robotcleaner in a longitudinal direction of the first opening, and thedischarge duct may have a discharge port arranged at a side region ofthe first opening as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the firstopening.

The suction port of the suction duct may have a larger cross-sectionalarea than the discharge port of the discharge duct.

A cross-sectional area ratio between the suction port of the suctionduct and the discharge port of the discharge duct may be 7.5:1.

The suction port of the suction duct and the discharge port of thedischarge duct may form the second opening of the maintenance system.

The maintenance station may further include a cover to open or close thesecond opening of the maintenance station.

The maintenance station may further include a bridge extending along acentral portion of the second opening of the maintenance station.

The robot cleaner may further include a brush unit provided at the firstopening of the robot cleaner. The brush unit may be controlled to allowdust stored in the first dust box of the robot cleaner to be moreeffectively discharged to the second opening of the maintenance station.

The brush unit may include a roller, and the roller of the brush unitchanges a rotation direction at least one time during the dustdischarge.

The roller may rotate slowly in an initial period of time when lightdust is discharged, and may then rotate rapidly.

The maintenance station may further include a brush cleaning member toclean the brush unit.

The brush cleaning member may be arranged adjacent to the second openingof the maintenance station.

The brush cleaning member may include a guide extending inclinedly withrespect to a rotation direction of the brush unit, and at least one hookprotruded from a side surface of the guide.

The robot cleaner may further include a dust sensing unit to sense anamount of dust stored in the first dust box. The dust sensing unit mayinclude a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor, which areinstalled at regions other than the first dust box, and a reflectingmember installed in the first dust box, to reflect a signal transmittedfrom the light emitting sensor to the light receiving sensor.

The robot cleaner may further include a dust sensing unit to sense anamount of dust stored in the first dust box. The robot cleaner may bemoved to the maintenance station when the dust amount sensed by the dustsensing unit corresponds to a predetermined amount or more.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a cleaningsystem includes docking a robot cleaner at a maintenance station,determining whether or not docking is completed, discharging dust storedin the robot cleaner into the maintenance station through an openingwhere a brush unit included in the robot cleaner is installed, uponcompletion of docking, and operating a brush unit of the robot cleanerduring dust discharge.

The brush unit may change a rotation direction at least one time.

The brush unit may rotate slowly in an initial period of time when lightdust is discharged, and may then rotate rapidly.

The cleaning system may further include determining whether or not dustis completely filled in a dust box of the robot cleaner.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a robotcleaner includes a body, a dust box provided at the body, to store dust,and a dust sensing unit to measure an amount of dust stored in the dustbox, wherein the dust sensing unit includes a light emitting sensorinstalled at a region other than the dust box, to transmit a signal toan interior of the dust box, and a light receiving sensor installed at aregion other than the dust box, to sense a signal emerging from theinterior of the dust box.

The dust sensing unit may further include a reflecting member installedwithin the dust box, to reflect the signal transmitted from the lightemitting sensor to the light receiving sensor.

The dust box may include at least one inlet, through which dust isintroduced into the dust box. The light emitting sensor and the lightreceiving sensor may be provided at a portion of the body correspondingto the inlet of the dust box, to perform signal transmission and signalreception through the inlet of the dust box, respectively.

The robot cleaner may further include a display provided at the body, todisplay various information. The display unit may display dust sensinginformation from the dust sensing unit.

There may be no connecting terminal connected to the dust box.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a robotcleaner may include a body, a dust box provided at the body, to storedust, and a dust sensing unit to measure an amount of dust stored in thedust box. The dust sensing unit may include a light emitting sensorinstalled at a region other than the dust box. A signal transmitted fromthe light emitting sensor may reach the light receiving sensor afterpassing through the dust box.

The dust box may be made of a transparent material to allow a signal topass through the dust box.

The light emitting sensor and the light receiving sensor may beinstalled so as to face each other.

The dust box may include a transmitted-signal passing portion arrangedat a position corresponding to the light emitting sensor, to allow asignal to enter the dust box, and a received-signal passing portionarranged at a position corresponding to the light receiving sensor, toallow a signal to emerge from the dust box.

The transmitted-signal passing portion and the received-signal passingportion may be made of a transparent material.

There may be no connecting terminal connected to the dust box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent andmore readily appreciated from the following description of theembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a cleaning system according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of the robotcleaner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a bottom of the robot cleaneraccording to the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is a plan view illustrating a dust sensing unit according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B is a plan view illustrating a dust sensing unit according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4C is a plan view illustrating a dust sensing unit according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A is a top perspective view illustrating a configuration of amaintenance station according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5B is a top perspective view illustrating a configuration of themaintenance station according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 5C is a top perspective view illustrating a configuration of themaintenance station according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 5D is a top perspective view illustrating a configuration of themaintenance station according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 5E is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of themaintenance station according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a duct included in the maintenancestation according to the embodiment of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the maintenance station according tothe embodiment of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a docking state of the robotcleaner and maintenance station;

FIG. 9A is a view illustrating a configuration of a brush cleaningmember according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9B is a view illustrating a configuration of the brush cleaningmember according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9C is a view illustrating a configuration of the brush cleaningmember according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating a cleaning system accordingto another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a suction/discharge dualtube;

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating flow of air in the cleaning systemaccording to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a view schematically illustrating a cleaning system accordingto another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a view schematically illustrating a cleaning system accordingto another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view illustrating a configuration of themaintenance station according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration ofthe maintenance station according to the illustrated embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating a duct included in the maintenancestation according to the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view illustrating a flow of air dischargedthrough a second opening during a docking operation;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view illustrating a flow of air sucked throughthe second opening during the docking operation;

FIG. 20 is a top perspective view illustrating a port assembly accordingto another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 21 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the port assemblyaccording to the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a robot cleaner, a maintenance station, and a cleaningsystem according to embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a cleaning system according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning system 10 may include a robot cleaner20 and a maintenance station 60. The robot cleaner 20 is a device forautonomously performing various cleaning tasks. The maintenance station60 is a device for repair and maintenance. The maintenance station 60may charge a battery of the robot cleaner 20, and empties a dust box ofthe robot cleaner 20.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of the robotcleaner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a bottom of the robot cleaneraccording to the illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the robot cleaner 20 includes a body 21, adriving unit 30, a cleaning unit 40, various sensors 50, and acontroller (not shown).

The body 21 may have various shapes. For example, the body 21 may have acircular shape. Where the body 21 has a circular shape, it may beprevented from coming into contact with surrounding obstacles and mayeasily achieve direction change, even during rotation thereof, becauseit has a constant radius of rotation. Also, it may be possible toprevent the body 21 from being obstructed by a surrounding obstacleduring travel thereof. Thus, the body 21 cannot be trapped by anobstacle during travel thereof.

Various constituent elements to perform cleaning tasks, that is, thedriving unit 30, cleaning unit 40, various sensors 50, controller (notshown), and a display 23, may be installed on the body 21.

The driving unit 30 may enable the body 21 to travel about a region tobe cleaned. The driving unit 30 may include left and right drivingwheels 31 a and 31 b, and a caster 32. The left and right driving wheels31 a and 31 b are mounted to a central portion of a bottom of the body21. The caster 32 is mounted to a front portion of the bottom of thebody 21, to maintain stability of the robot cleaner 20.

The left and right driving wheels 31 a and 31 b may be controlled tomove the robot cleaner 20 forward or backward, or to change the runningdirection of the robot cleaner 20. For example, it may be possible tomove the robot cleaner 20 forward or backward by uniformly controllingthe left and right driving wheels 31 a and 31 b. Also, it may bepossible to change the running direction of the robot cleaner 20 bydifferently controlling the left and right driving wheels 31 a and 31 b.

Meanwhile, each of the left and right driving wheels 31 a and 31 b, andthe caster 32 may be configured into a single assembly detachablymounted to the body 21.

The cleaning unit 40 may clean the region underneath the body 21 andsurrounding portions thereof. The cleaning unit 40 may include a brushunit 41, a side brush 42, and a first dust box 43.

The brush unit 41 may be mounted to a first opening 21 a formed throughthe bottom of the body 21. The brush unit 41 may be arranged at aposition other than the central portion of the body 21. That is, thebrush unit 41 may be arranged at a position adjacent to the drivingwheels 31 a and 31 b while being spaced apart from the driving wheels 31a and 31 b in a rearward direction R of the body 21.

The brush unit 41 may sweep dust accumulated on a floor beneath the body21 into the first dust box 43. The brush unit 41 may include a roller 41a rotatably mounted to the first opening 21 a, and a brush 41 b fixed toan outer peripheral surface of the roller 41 a. When the roller 41 arotates, the brush 41 b, which is made of an elastic material, may sweepup dust accumulated on the floor. In accordance with this sweepingoperation, the dust accumulated on the floor may be collected in thefirst dust box 43 through the first opening 21 a.

The brush unit 41 may be controlled to rotate at a constant speed, inorder to exhibit a uniform cleaning performance. When the brush unit 41cleans a rough floor surface, the rotating speed thereof may be lowered,as compared to the case in which the brush unit 41 cleans a smooth floorsurface. In this case, an increased amount of current may be supplied tokeep the speed of the brush unit 41 constant.

The side brush 42 may be rotatably mounted to a peripheral portion ofthe bottom of the body 21 at one side of the body 21. The side brush 42may be mounted at a position spaced apart from the central portion ofthe body 21 in a forward direction F while being biased toward one sideof the body 21.

The side brush 42 may move dust accumulated around the body 21 to thebrush unit 41. The side brush 42 may expand the cleaning zone of therobot cleaner 20 to the bottom of the body 21 and surroundings thereof.The dust moved to the brush unit 41 may be collected in the first dustbox 43 through the first opening 21 a, as described above.

The first dust box 43 may be mounted to a rear portion of the body 21.The first dust box 43 includes an inlet 43′ communicating with the firstopening 21 a, to allow dust to be introduced into the first dust box 43.

The first dust box 43 may be divided into a larger dust box 43 a and asmaller dust box 43 b by a partition 43 c. The brush unit 41 may sweepdust having a relatively-large size into the larger dust box 43 a viathe first inlet 43 a′. A fan unit 22 may be provided to suck small-sizedust such as hairs via a second inlet 43 b′, and thus to collect thedust in the smaller dust box 43 b. In particular, a brush cleaningmember 41 c is arranged at a position adjacent to the second inlet 43b′. The brush cleaning member 41 c removes hairs wound around the brushunit 41, and then collects the removed hairs in the smaller dust box 43b via the second inlet 43 b′, using a suction force of the fan unit 22.

Meanwhile, each of the brush unit 41, side brush 42, and first dust box43 may be configured into a single assembly detachably mountable to thebody 21.

FIG. 4A is a plan view illustrating a dust sensing unit according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4B is a plan viewillustrating a dust sensing unit according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4C is a plan viewillustrating a dust sensing unit according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the dust sensing unit may be installed within thefirst dust box 43, in order to sense the amount of dust in the firstdust box 43.

In this case, the dust sensing unit 44 may include a light emittingsensor 44 a and a light receiving sensor 44 b. A signal transmitted fromthe light emitting sensor 44 a within the first dust box 43 may bedirectly received by the light receiving sensor 44 b.

Each of the light emitting sensor 44 a and light receiving sensor 44 bmay include a photodiode or a phototransistor. In this case, it may bepossible to determine whether or not the first dust box 43 is completelyfilled with dust, based on the amount of energy sensed by the photodiodeor phototransistor. That is, as dust is accumulated in the first dustbox 43, the amount of energy sensed by the photodiode or phototransistormay be considerably reduced. Through comparison of the sensed energyamount with a predetermined reference value, the controller maydetermine that the first dust box 43 is completely filled with dust,when the sensed energy amount is less than the reference value. Sincethe light emitting sensor 44 a and light receiving sensor 44 b, whichare configured by photodiodes or phototransistors, are considerablyinfluenced by disturbance, it may be possible to more accurately sensethe amount of dust where a structure such as a slit or a light guide isinstalled to guide a signal transmitted from the light emitting sensor44 a or a signal received by the light receiving sensor 44 b.

Each of the light emitting sensor 44 a and light receiving sensor 44 bmay also be configured by a remote-controller receiving module. In thiscase, it may be possible to determine whether or not the first dust box43 is completely filled with dust, based on whether or not a signal hasbeen received by the light receiving sensor 44 b. That is, when dust isaccumulated, the light receiving sensor 44 b may not receive a signaltransmitted from the light emitting sensor 44 a. In this case, thecontroller may determine that the amount of dust in the first dust box43 corresponds to a predetermined amount or more. The light emittingsensors 44 a and light receiving sensor 44 b, which areremote-controller receiving modules, may not require a slit or lightguide structure because they filter low-frequency waves while exhibitinghigh intensity and sensitivity.

For the signal transmitted from the light emitting sensor 44 a andreceived by the light receiving sensor 44 b, visible light, infraredlight, sound waves, ultrasonic waves, etc. may be used.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4B, the dust sensing unit 44 may include alight emitting sensor 44 a, a light receiving sensor 44 b, and areflecting member 44 c.

In this case, the light emitting sensor 44 a and light receiving sensor44 b are not installed within the first dust box 43, but are insteadinstalled in an area other than the first dust box 43. That is, thelight emitting sensor 44 a and light receiving sensor 44 b may beinstalled at a portion of the body 21 facing the first dust box 43. Indetail, the light emitting sensor 44 a and light receiving sensor 44 bmay be installed adjacent to the inlet 43′ of the first dust box 43. Inthis case, accordingly, the light emitting sensor 44 a may transmit asignal into the first dust box 43 through the inlet 43′. The lightreceiving sensor 44 b may receive the signal, which emerges from thefirst dust box 43 through the inlet 43′ of the first dust box 43.

The reflecting member 44 c may be installed within the first dust box43. The reflecting member 44 c may reflect a signal emitted from thelight emitting sensor 44 a toward the light receiving sensor 44 b.

When the first dust box 43 is completely filled with dust in this case,the reflecting member 44 c is shielded by the dust, so that the signalemitted from the light emitting sensor 44 a cannot be received by thelight receiving sensor 44 b, or the amount of energy received by thelight receiving sensor 44 b is considerably reduced. In this state,accordingly, the controller may determine that the first dust box 43 isfilled with a predetermined amount of dust or more.

Meanwhile, where the light emitting sensors 44 a and light receivingsensors 44 b are configured by remote-controller modules, it may beunnecessary to use a slit or light guide structure because the lightemitting sensors 44 a and light receiving sensors 44 b filterlow-frequency waves while exhibiting high intensity and sensitivity, asdescribed above. That is, the light emitting sensors 44 a and lightreceiving sensors 44 b, which are configured by remote-controllermodules, may determine whether or not the first dust box 43 iscompletely filled with dust, even though there is no structure such asthe reflecting member 44 c within the first dust box 43.

Since the light emitting sensor 44 a and light receiving sensor 44 b maynot be installed within the first dust box 43, as described above, itmay be unnecessary to install an electrical connecting terminal withinthe first dust box 43. Accordingly, the user may clean the first dustbox 43, using water.

The dust sensing unit 44 may also include a light emitting sensor 44 aand a light receiving sensor 44 b, which are configured as shown in FIG.4C.

In this case, the light emitting sensor 44 a and light receiving sensor44 b need not be installed within the first dust box 43, and may insteadbe installed at regions other than the first dust box 43. That is, thelight emitting sensors 44 a and light receiving sensors 44 b may beinstalled on the body 21, to face each other. In detail, the lightemitting sensor 44 a may be installed at a portion of the body 21 facingone side of the first dust box 43, whereas the light receiving sensor 44b may be installed at another portion of the body 21 facing the otherside of the first dust box 43. In this case, the first dust box 43 isarranged between the light emitting sensor 44 a and the light receivingsensor 44 b, so that a signal transmitted from the light emitting sensor44 a may be received by the light receiving sensor 44 b through thefirst dust box 43. The first dust box 43 may be formed to be completelytransparent, so as to allow a signal to pass therethrough. The firstdust box 43 may include a transparent transmitted-signal passing portion43 a″ at a position corresponding to the light emitting sensor 44 a, inorder to allow a signal to pass therethrough, and a transparentreceived-signal passing portion 43 b″ at a position corresponding to thelight receiving sensor 44 b, in order to allow a signal to passtherethrough.

The signal transmitted from the light emitting sensor 44 a may bedirectly received by the light receiving sensor 44 b. When the firstdust box 43 is completely filled with dust, the light receiving sensor44 b does not sense any signal, or the amount of energy sensed by thelight receiving sensor 44 b may be considerably reduced. In this case,the controller may determine that the first dust box 43 is completelyfilled with dust.

Since an electrical connecting structure is not installed within thefirst dust box 43, it may be possible to clean the first dust box 43,using water.

When the dust sensing unit 44 senses a predetermined amount of dust ormore, the robot cleaner 20 may display information about the sensedresult on the display 23. The user may directly clean the first dust box43. Meanwhile, the robot cleaner 20 may automatically dock with themaintenance station 60, to automatically discharge dust collected in thefirst dust box 43.

The various sensors 50, which are mounted to the body 21, may be used tosense obstacles. As these sensors 50, a contact sensor, a proximitysensor, etc. may be used. For example, a bumper 51, which is arranged ata front portion of the body 21, to be directed to a front direction F ofthe body 21, may be used to sense a front obstacle such as a wall. Itmay also be possible to sense a front obstacle, using an infrared sensor(or an ultrasonic sensor).

An infrared sensor 52 (or an ultrasonic sensor), which is arranged onthe bottom of the body 21, may be used to sense a condition of thefloor, for example, condition of steps. A plurality of infrared sensors52 may be installed on the bottom of the body 21 along an arc-shapedperipheral portion of the body 21.

Various sensors other than the above-described sensors may also beinstalled on the body 21, to transfer various conditions of the robotcleaner 20 to the controller.

The controller receives signals from the various sensors 50, andcontrols the driving unit 30 and cleaning unit 40, based on the receivedsignals, thereby more efficiently controlling the robot cleaner 20.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view illustrating a top perspective viewillustrating a configuration of the maintenance station according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5B is a topperspective view illustrating a configuration of the maintenance stationaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 5C is a top perspective view illustrating a configuration of themaintenance station according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure. FIG. 5D is a top perspective view illustrating aconfiguration of the maintenance station according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5E is a sectional viewillustrating a configuration of the maintenance station according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a planview illustrating a duct included in the maintenance station accordingto the embodiment of FIG. 5A. FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating themaintenance station according to the embodiment of FIG. 5A.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the robot cleaner 20 may dock with themaintenance station 60 in various situations. For example, there may bevarious situations such as a situation in which the battery (not shown)of the robot cleaner 20 needs to be charged, a situation in which therobot cleaner 20 has performed a cleaning task for a predetermined time,a situation in which the robot cleaner 20 has completed a cleaning task,and a situation in which the first dust box 43 of the robot cleaner 20is completely filled with dust.

The maintenance station 60 may include a housing 61, a docking guideunit 70, a charging unit 80, a dust removal unit 90, and a controller(not shown).

A platform 62 may be provided at the housing 61. The platform 62 maysupport the robot cleaner 20 while the robot cleaner 20 docks with themaintenance station 60.

The platform 62 has an inclined structure to allow the robot cleaner 20to easily ascend along or descend from the platform 62. A caster guide63 a may be formed at the platform 62, to guide the caster 32 of therobot cleaner 20. Driving wheel guides 63 b and 63 c may also be formedat the platform 62, to guide the left and right driving wheels 31 a and31 b of the robot cleaner 20. The caster guide 63 a and driving wheelguides 63 b and 63 c may be formed to be recessed, as compared toportions of the platform 62 therearound.

A second opening 62 a may be formed through the platform 62. The secondopening 62 a of the platform 62 may be arranged at a position where thesecond opening 62 a may communicate with the first opening 21 a of therobot cleaner 20. In accordance with this arrangement, dust dischargedthrough the first opening 21 a of the robot cleaner 20 may be introducedinto the second opening 62 a of the platform 62. The dust introducedinto the second opening 62 a of the platform 62 may be collected in asecond dust box 94 included in the maintenance station 60.

The second dust box 94 of the maintenance station 60 is different fromthe first dust box 43 of the robot cleaner 20. The first dust box 43 ofthe robot cleaner 20 stores dust collected by the robot cleaner 20during movement of the robot cleaner 20. The second dust box 94 of themaintenance station 60 collects and stores dust discharged from thefirst dust box 43. In this regard, the second dust box 94 of themaintenance station 60 n may have a greater capacity than the first dustbox 43 of the robot cleaner 20.

The dust sensing unit 44 may also be installed within the second dustbox 94, in order to sense the amount of dust in the second dust box 94.

In this case, the dust sensing unit 44 may include a light emittingsensor 44 a and a light receiving sensor 44 b. When the light receivingsensor 44 b cannot receive a signal transmitted from the light emittingsensor 44 a, the controller may determine that the amount of dust in thesecond dust box 94 corresponds to a predetermined amount or more.

The second opening 62 a of the platform 62 may have an open structure,as shown in FIG. 5A. That is, the second opening 62 a of the platform 62may always be open without being covered by a separate cover.

The platform 62 may be formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle θor more (FIG. 7). When the robot cleaner 20 moves on the platform 62inclined at the predetermined angle θ or more, the front portion of therobot cleaner 20 may be slightly lifted because the weight of the robotcleaner 20 is rearwardly biased. As a result, the caster 32 of the robotcleaner 20 may pass the second opening 62 a of the platform 62 withoutfalling into the second opening 62 a.

Meanwhile, a cover 64 may be installed at the second opening 62 a of theplatform 62, to slidably move along the second opening 62 a, as shown inFIG. 5B. When the robot cleaner 20 is completely docked, the cover 64may be opened, to allow the robot cleaner 20 to discharge dust throughthe second opening 62 a of the platform 62. On the other hand, when thedocked state of the robot cleaner 20 is released, the cover 64 may beclosed to close the second opening 62 a of the platform 62.

The cover 64 may also function as a bridge upon which the caster 32 ofthe robot cleaner 20 will move. The cover 64 may be opened or closed inlinkage with docking of the robot cleaner 20. That is, the cover 64 maybe opened while or before the caster 32 passes the cover 64 duringdocking of the robot cleaner 20. The cover 64 may be closed while orafter the caster 32 passes the cover 64 during docking release of therobot cleaner 20. It may also be possible to open or close the cover 64,using a separate device.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5C, a cover 65 may be installed atthe second opening 62 a of the platform 62, to slidably move along thesecond opening 62 a. Of course, the cover 65 may be installed only at acentral portion of the second opening 62 a of the platform 62 in thecase of FIG. 5C, different from the case of FIG. 5B. This structure isadapted to allow the caster 32 of the robot cleaner 20 to pass thesecond opening 62 a of the platform 62. The opening/closing operation ofthe cover 65 may be achieved in the same manner as described above.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5D, a bridge 66 may be installed atthe second opening 62 a of the platform 62. The bridge 66 may beinstalled only at a central portion of the second opening 62 a of theplatform 62, to achieve a bridge function allowing the caster 32 of therobot cleaner 20 to pass the bridge 66.

As shown in FIG. 5E, the bridge 66 may be installed at the secondopening 62 a of the platform 62 to move upward and downward. That is,when the robot cleaner 20 enters the platform 62, the bridge 67 a movesupward to allow the caster 32 of the robot cleaner 20 to move thereon.When the docking of the robot cleaner 20 is completed, the bridge 67 bmoves downward to allow the second opening 62 a of the platform 62 tosecure an increased opening area.

The docking guide unit 70 may be installed at an upper portion of thehousing 61. The docking guide unit 70 may include a plurality of sensors71. The sensors 71 may define a docking guide region and a dockingregion, to accurately guide the robot cleaner 20 to dock with themaintenance station 60.

The charging unit 80 may be installed at the platform 62. The chargingunit 80 may include a plurality of connecting terminals 81 a and 81 b.The connecting terminals 81 a and 81 b may correspond to a plurality ofconnecting terminals 23 a and 23 b provided at the robot cleaner 20.When docking of the robot cleaner 20 is completed, current may besupplied to the plural connecting terminals 23 a and 23 b of the robotcleaner 20 via the plural connecting terminals 81 a and 81 b of themaintenance station 60.

The charging unit 80 may supply current after determining whether or notthe plural connecting terminals 23 a and 23 b of the robot cleaner 20are connected to the charging unit 80. That is, when the charging unit80 is connected to an element other than the plural connecting terminals23 a and 23 b, the charging unit 80 interrupts supply of current, toavoid occurrence of an accident.

The dust removal unit 90 may be installed at the housing 61. The dustremoval unit 90 may discharge dust stored in the first dust box 43 ofthe robot cleaner 20 into the second dust box 94 of the maintenancestation 60, to empty the first dust box 43. Thus, the dust removal unit90 may maintain desired cleaning performance of the robot cleaner 20.

The dust removal unit 90 may include a pump unit 91, a suction duct 92,and a discharge duct 93, in addition to the second dust box 94. The dustremoval unit 90 functions to force a flow of air discharged from thedischarge duct 93 to be sucked back into the suction duct 92. Using sucha circulating air flow, the dust removal unit 90 removes dust stored inthe first dust box 43 of the robot cleaner 20.

The pump unit 91 is a device to suck/discharge air. The pump unit 91 mayinclude a fan and a motor.

The suction duct 92 may be installed at a suction side of the pump unit91. The suction duct 92 may include a suction port 92 a, which may forma portion of the second opening 62 a. Alternatively, the suction port 92a may be separate from the second opening 62 a. In this case, thesuction duct 92 a may be arranged at a position adjacent to the secondopening 62 a.

The suction port 92 a may extend in a longitudinal direction of thesecond opening 62 a, to occupy a portion of the second opening 62 a,except for a portion of the second opening 62 a occupied by dischargeports 93 a and 93 b of the discharge duct 93.

The discharge duct 93 may be installed at a discharge side of the pumpunit 91. The discharge duct 93 may be divided into two portions, whichform the two discharge ports 93 a and 93 b. The discharge ports 93 a and93 b may form portions of the second opening 62 a. Alternatively, thedischarge ports 93 a and 93 b may be separate from the second opening 62a. In this case, the discharge ports 93 a and 93 b may be arranged atpositions adjacent to the second opening 62 a.

The discharge ports 93 a and 93 b may be formed at longitudinal ends ofthe second opening 62 a, namely, opposite side regions of the secondopening 62 a, respectively.

The suction port 92 a of the suction duct 92 may have a largercross-sectional area than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of thedischarge ports 93 a and 93 b of the discharge duct 93. Hereinafter, thesum of the cross-sectional areas of the discharge ports 93 a and 93 b ofthe discharge duct 93 will be simply referred to as “the cross-sectionalarea of the discharge ports 93 a and 93 b”. The cross-sectional arearatio between the suction port 92 a of the suction duct 92 and thedischarge ports 93 a and 93 b of the discharge duct may be 7.5:1. Ofcourse, the cross-sectional area ratio of the suction port 92 a of thesuction duct 92 to the discharge ports 93 a and 93 b of the dischargeduct may be smaller than the above-described ratio, for example, may be7:1, 6.5:1, or 6:1. Even when the cross-sectional area ratio is slightlyreduced, as described above, it falls within the technical scope of thepresent disclosure.

Accordingly, the air flow velocity at the discharge ports 93 a and 93 bof the discharge duct 93 may be higher than the air flow velocity at thesuction port 92 a of the suction duct 92 because there is across-sectional area difference between the suction port 92 a and thedischarge ports 93 a and 93 b under the condition that the suction flowrate and discharge flow rate of the pump unit 91 are substantiallyequal. By virtue of this flow velocity difference, it may be possible toprevent air emerging from the discharge ports 93 a and 93 b from beingsucked into the suction port 92 a. That is, air emerging from thedischarge ports 93 a and 93 b may be injected into the first dust box 34without being directly sucked into the suction port 92 a by a suctionforce at the suction port 92 a, because the air flow velocity of thedischarged air is very high. Thus, air injected into the first dust box43 may emerge from the first dust box 43 after circulating through thefirst dust box 34, and may then enter the suction port 92 a.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a docking state of the robotcleaner and maintenance station.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, when the robot cleaner 20 docks with themaintenance station 60, the first opening 21 a of the robot cleaner 20may communicate with the second opening 62 a of the maintenance station60.

When docking is achieved, the suction port 92 a of the suction duct 92may be arranged adjacent to the first opening 21 a of the robot cleaner20 while extending in the longitudinal direction of the first opening 21a. Also, the discharge ports 93 a and 93 b of the discharge duct 93 maybe arranged adjacent to the first opening 21 a of the robot cleaner 20at the longitudinal ends of the first opening 21 a of the robot cleaner20, namely, the opposite side regions of the first opening 21 a,respectively.

In accordance with the above-described configuration, air circulated(returned) by the dust removing device 90 during the docking operationmay form a closed loop. That is, air discharged from the pump unit 91rapidly emerges from the discharge ports 93 a and 93 b of the dischargeduct 93, and then enters the first dust box 43 of the robot cleaner 20after passing through the opposite side regions of the first opening 21a. The air introduced into the first dust box 43 of the robot cleaner 20is discharged through the central region of the first opening 21 a, tobe introduced into the second dust box 94 of the maintenance station 60through the suction port 92 a of the suction duct 92. Thereafter, theair is again sucked into the pump unit 91.

FIG. 9A is a view illustrating a configuration of the brush cleaningmember according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 9B is a view illustrating a configuration of the brush cleaningmember according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 9C is a view illustrating a configuration of the brushcleaning member according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the maintenance station 60 may include a brushcleaning member 95 a to clean the brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner 20.The brush cleaning member 95 a of the maintenance station 60 isdifferent from the brush cleaning member 41 c of the robot cleaner 20.

The brush cleaning member 95 a of the maintenance station 60 may bearranged adjacent to the second opening 62 a. The brush cleaning member95 a of the maintenance station 60 may be protruded from the bottom ofthe housing 61 toward the second opening 62 a. The brush cleaning member95 a may include a plurality of brush cleaning members arranged in alongitudinal direction of the second opening 62 a.

In a docking state, the brush cleaning member 95 a of the maintenancestation 60 may be in contact with the brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner20. The brush cleaning member 95 a of the maintenance station 60 mayremove foreign matter such as hairs wound around the brush unit 41 ofthe robot cleaner 20. In particular, the foreign matter removed by thebrush cleaning member 95 a of the maintenance station 60 may beintroduced into the second dust box 94 by the suction force of the pumpunit 91 because the brush cleaning member 95 a of the maintenancestation 60 may be arranged at the suction duct 92.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, thebrush cleaning member 95 b of the maintenance station 60 may be arrangedto be slidably movable in the longitudinal direction of the secondopening 62 a, as shown in FIG. 9B. The brush cleaning member 95 b of themaintenance station 60 may remove foreign matter wound around the brushunit 41 of the robot cleaner 20 while sliding.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, thebrush cleaning member 95 c of the maintenance station 60 may beinstalled to be upwardly and downwardly movable, as shown in FIG. 9C.The brush cleaning member 95 c may move upward when the docking of therobot cleaner is completed, so that the brush cleaning member 95 c comesinto contact with the brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner 20. On theother hand, when the docking of the robot cleaner is released, the brushcleaning member 95 c may move downward. Meanwhile, the upward anddownward movement of the brush cleaning member 95 c may be carried outin linkage with docking of the robot cleaner 20.

The brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner 20 may more effectively move dustin cooperation with the dust removal unit 90. When the dust removal unit90 circulates air, the brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner 20 may rotatein a clockwise direction in FIG. 8. In this case, the brush unit 41 ofthe robot cleaner 20 may assist introduction of air into the first dustbox 43 of the robot cleaner 20. Furthermore, the brush unit 41 mayassist introduction of air emerging from the first dust box 43 of therobot cleaner 20 into the suction port 92 a of the suction duct 92.

The brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner may rotate at various speeds, tomore effectively move dust. For example, when the dust removal unit 90circulates air, the brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner 20 may slowlyrotate in an early stage, and may then rapidly rotate. Here, the “earlystage” means a certain period of time. This period may be set to be asufficient time to allow light dust such as hairs to be discharged. Asthe brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner 20 rotates slowly in the earlystage, foreign matter such as relatively-light hairs may be easily movedto the suction port 92 a of the suction duct 92 by the suction force ofthe dust removal unit 90. As the brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner 20then rotates rapidly, relatively-heavy dust may be easily moved to thesuction port 92 a of the suction duct 92 by virtue of the rotating forceof the brush unit 41.

The brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner 20 may remove foreign matterwound around the brush unit 41 while changing the rotation directionthereof at least one time. Dust stored in the first dust box 43 of therobot cleaner 20 may be wound around the brush unit 41 of the robotcleaner 20 because it is discharged through the first opening 21 a ofthe robot cleaner 20 after passing the brush unit 41 of the robotcleaner 20. At this time, it may be possible to unwind the foreignmatter wound around the brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner 20 bychanging the rotation direction of the brush unit 41 of the robotcleaner 20. The unwound foreign matter is moved to the suction port 92 aof the suction duct 92, and is then stored in the second dust box 94 ofthe maintenance station 60. Subsequently, the brush unit 41 of the robotcleaner 20 may again change the rotation direction, so as to rotate inthe original direction. The brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner 20 mayrepeat the change of the rotation direction several times.

Hereinafter, operation of the cleaning system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9C, the robot cleaner 20 may sense a signal fromthe docking guide unit 70, to accurately dock with the maintenancestation 60 in accordance with the sensed signal. Docking is initiated asthe body 21 enters the platform 62, starting from the front portion ofthe body 21. Docking is completed at a position where the first opening231 a of the robot cleaner 20 communicates with the second opening 62 aof the maintenance station 60.

Upon completion of docking, the dust removal unit 90 may discharge duststored in the robot cleaner 20 to the maintenance station 60. In detail,the pump unit 91 may discharge air at a high flow velocity through thedischarge ports 93 a and 93 b of the discharge duct 93. The air emergingfrom the discharge ports 93 a and 93 b may be introduced into the firstdust box 43 after passing through the first opening 21 a of the robotcleaner 20. The air introduced into the first dust box 43 of the robotcleaner 20 may completely circulate the entire space of the first dustbox 43 without forming a dead space in the first dust box 43. Inparticular, air emerging from the discharge ports 93 a and 93 b maycompletely stir dust, starting from the side portion of the first dustbox 43, because the discharge ports 93 a and 93 b are arranged at theopposite side regions of the first opening 20 a of the robot cleaner 20as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the first opening 20 a.Subsequently, the dust stored in the first dust box 43 may be suspendedin the air introduced into the first dust box 43, and may then bedischarged through the first opening 21 a, along with the air introducedinto the first dust box 43. The suction port 92 a of the suction duct 92applies a suction force to the first opening 21 a of the robot cleaner20, thereby causing dust emerging from the first dust box 43 of therobot cleaner 20 to be sucked. The dust introduced into the suction port92 a of the suction duct 92 may be stored in the second dust box 94 ofthe maintenance station 60. Air is again sucked into the pump unit 91via a filter 94 a.

Thus, the air discharged from the pump unit 91 may be reintroduced intothe pump unit 91 after sequentially passing through the discharge duct93, the first opening 21 a of the robot cleaner 20, the first dust box43 of the robot cleaner 20, the first opening 21 a of the robot cleaner20, the suction duct 92, and the second dust box 94 of the maintenancestation 60. As air circulates (returns) as described above, it may bepossible to maximally prevent outward discharge of air. Accordingly, itmay be possible to reduce the performance of the filter 94 a.Furthermore, it may be possible to achieve suction/discharge of air,using a single pump unit as the pump unit 91.

Dust emerging from the first dust box 43 of the robot cleaner 20 may bemoved to a large central region of the first opening 21 a of the robotcleaner 20 and a large central region of the second opening 62 a of themaintenance station 60 because the air emerging from the discharge ports93 a and 93 b of the discharge duct 93 may be discharged through theopposite side regions of the first opening 21 a of the robot cleaner 20and second opening 62 a of the maintenance station 60 as viewed in thelongitudinal direction of the first and second openings 21 a and 62 a,and the air sucked at the suction port 92 a of the suction duct 92 maybe sucked through the large regions of the first opening 21 a of therobot cleaner 20 and second opening 62 a of the maintenance station 60as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the first and second openings21 a and 62 a. The arrangements of the suction port 92 a and dischargeports 93 a and 93 b may prevent dust emerging from the first dust box 43of the robot cleaner 20 from moving through the opposite side regions,and thus may prevent the dust from being outwardly discharged. Thepositions of the suction port 92 a and discharge ports 93 a and 93 bwith regard to the first opening 21 a of the robot cleaner 20 and thesecond opening 62 a of the maintenance station 60 may provide a certainsealing effect between the robot cleaner 20 and the maintenance station60.

Meanwhile, the brush unit 41 may be controlled to rotate slowly in anearly stage, and then to rotate rapidly while the dust removal unit 90circulates air, in order to assist the dust removal unit 90. In detail,the brush unit 41 assists, in the early stage, the dust removal unit 90to rapidly suck light dust such as hairs while rotating slowly.Subsequently, the brush unit 41 assists the dust removal unit 90 to suckrelatively-heavy dust while rotating rapidly.

Furthermore, the brush unit 41 may be controlled to change the rotationdirection thereof at least one time while the dust removal unit 90circulates air, in order to assist the dust removal unit 90. In detail,foreign matter such as hairs may be wound around the brush unit 41. Thewound foreign matter such as hairs may be unwound as the rotationdirection of the brush unit 41 is changed. In this case, the dustremoval unit 90 may suck the foreign matter such as hairs off of thebrush unit 41.

Meanwhile, the brush cleaning member 95 of the maintenance station 60may remove foreign mater such as hairs wound around the brush unit 41 ofthe robot cleaner 20. Foreign matter wound around the brush unit 41 ofthe robot cleaner 20 during rotation of the brush unit 41 comes intocontact with the brush cleaning member 95 of the maintenance station 60,so that the foreign matter may be removed from the brush unit 41 by thebrush cleaning member 95 of the maintenance station 60. The removedforeign matter may be collected in the second dust box 94 by the suctionforce of the dust removal unit 90.

FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating a cleaning system accordingto another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is aperspective view illustrating a suction/discharge dual tube. FIG. 12 isa view illustrating flow of air in the cleaning system according to theembodiment shown in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the cleaning system 100 may discharge duststored in a first dust box 143 included in a robot cleaner 120 to asecond dust box 194 included in a maintenance station 160. The followingdescription will be given only in conjunction with matters differentfrom those of the previous embodiments.

The maintenance station 160 may include a suction/discharge dual tube200, to which a suction air flow and a discharge air flow are applied.Here, the “suction air flow” is an air flow emerging from the first dustbox 143 of the robot cleaner 120, whereas the “discharge air flow” is anair flow introduced into the first dust box 143 of the robot cleaner120. When docking is carried out, the first dust box 143 of the robotcleaner 120 may be coupled with the suction/discharge dual tube 200 ofthe maintenance station 160 via a communicating member 145.

The suction/discharge dual tube 200 may have a concentric dual tubestructure. For example, the suction/discharge dual tube 200 may includea discharge tube 293 arranged at a central portion of thesuction/discharge dual tube 200, and a suction tube 292 surrounding anouter peripheral surface of the discharge tube 293.

On the other hand, the suction/discharge dual, tube may have a paralleldual tube structure in accordance with another embodiment. For example,the suction/discharge dual tube may include suction and discharge tubesarranged in parallel in a longitudinal direction or in a lateraldirection.

The maintenance station 160 may include a dust removal unit 190. Thedust removal unit 190 may include a pump unit 191, a suction duct 192installed at a suction side of the pump unit 191, and connected to thesuction tube 292 of the suction/discharge dual tube 200, a dischargeduct 193 installed at a discharge side of the pump unit 191, andconnected to the discharge tube 293 of the suction/discharge dual tube200, and a second dust box 194.

When the robot cleaner 20 docks with the maintenance station 160, airdischarged from the pump unit 191 may be introduced into the first dustbox 143 of the robot cleaner 120 after entering the discharge tube 293of the suction/discharge dual tube 200 via the discharge duct 193.Thereafter, the air introduced into the first dust box 143 may passthrough the suction duct 192 after being sucked into the suction tube292 of the suction/discharge dual tube 200, along with dust stored inthe first dust box 143. The dust passing through the suction duct 192may be stored in the second dust box 194, and may then be sucked intothe pump unit 191 again.

Thus, the air discharged from the pump unit 191 may be reintroduced intothe pump unit 191 after sequentially passing through the discharge duct193, the discharge tube 293 of the suction/discharge dual tube 200, thefirst dust box 143 of the robot cleaner 120, the suction tube 292 of thesuction/discharge dual tube 200, the suction duct 192, and the seconddust box 194 of the maintenance station 160.

FIG. 13 is a view schematically illustrating a cleaning system accordingto another embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 13, the cleaning system 300 may discharge dust storedin a first dust box 343 included in a robot cleaner 320 to a second dustbox 394 included in a maintenance station 360. The following descriptionwill be given only in conjunction with matters different from those ofthe previous embodiments.

The first dust box 343 of the robot cleaner 320 may include an inletcommunicating with a first opening 321 a included in the robot cleaner320, and a communicating member 345 to directly communicate with themaintenance station 360.

The maintenance station 360 may include a dust removal unit 390. Thedust removal unit 390 may include a pump unit 391, a suction duct 392installed at a suction side of the pump unit 391, and a discharge duct393 installed at a discharge side of the pump unit 391.

When the robot cleaner 320 docks with the maintenance station 360, thefirst opening 321 a of the robot cleaner 320 may be connected to thesuction duct 392 of the maintenance station 360, and the communicatingmember 345 of the first dust box 343 in the robot cleaner 320 may beconnected to the discharge duct 393 of the maintenance station 360.

Air discharged from the pump unit 391 may be introduced into the firstdust box 343 of the robot cleaner 320 via the discharge duct 393. Theair introduced into the first dust box 343 of the robot cleaner 320 maybe moved to the suction duct 392 after passing through the inlet 343′ ofthe first dust box 343 and the first opening 321 a of the robot cleaner320, along with dust stored in the first dust box 343. The dust moved tothe suction duct 392 is stored in the second dust box 394 of themaintenance station 360, whereas the air may be sucked into the pumpunit 391 again.

Thus, the air discharged from the pump unit 391 may be reintroduced intothe pump unit 391 after sequentially passing through the discharge duct393, communicating member 345 of the first dust box 343, the first dustbox 343 of the robot cleaner 320, the inlet 343′ of the first dust box343, the suction duct 392, and the second dust box 394 of themaintenance station 360.

FIG. 14 is a view schematically illustrating a cleaning system accordingto another embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 14, the cleaning system 400 may discharge dust storedin a first dust box 443 included in a robot cleaner 420 to a second dustbox 494 included in a maintenance station 460. The following descriptionwill be given only in conjunction with matters different from those ofthe previous embodiments.

When the robot cleaner 420 docks with the maintenance station 460, afirst opening 421 a of the robot cleaner 420 may be connected to adischarge duct 493 of the maintenance station 460, and a communicatingmember 445 included in the first dust box 443 of the robot cleaner 420may be connected to a suction duct 492 of the maintenance station 460.

Air discharged from the pump unit 491 may be introduced into the firstdust box 443 of the robot cleaner 320 via the discharge duct 493, thefirst opening 421 a of the robot cleaner 420, and an inlet 443′ of thefirst dust box 443. The air introduced into the first dust box 443 ofthe robot cleaner 420 may be moved to the suction duct 492 after passingthrough the communicating member 445 of the first dust box 443, alongwith dust stored in the first dust box 443. The dust moved to thesuction duct 492 is stored in the second dust box 494 of the maintenancestation 460, whereas the air may be sucked into the pump unit 491 again.

Thus, the air discharged from the pump unit 491 may be reintroduced intothe pump unit 491 after sequentially passing through the discharge duct493, the inlet 443′ of the first dust box 443, the first dust box 443 ofthe robot cleaner 420, the communicating member 445 of the first dustbox 443, the suction duct 492, and the second dust box 494 of themaintenance station 460.

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view illustrating a configuration of themaintenance station according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view illustratinga configuration of the maintenance station according to the illustratedembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a plan viewillustrating a duct included in the maintenance station according to theillustrated embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a sectionalview illustrating a flow of air discharged through a second openingduring a docking operation. FIG. 19 is a sectional view illustrating aflow of air sucked through the second opening during the dockingoperation. FIG. 20 is a top perspective view illustrating a portassembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 21 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the portassembly according to the illustrated embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 15 to 21, a cleaning system 510 is illustrated. Thecleaning system 510 has the same basic structure as the above-describedcleaning system 10. Accordingly, the following description will be givenmainly in conjunction with portions of the cleaning system 510 differentfrom the cleaning system 10, and no description will be given of thesame portions of the cleaning system 510 as the cleaning system 10, ifpossible.

The maintenance station 560 may include a housing 561, a docking guideunit 570, a charging unit 580, a dust removal unit 590, and a controller(not shown).

A platform 562 may be provided at the housing 561. A second opening 562a may be formed at the platform 562. The second opening 562 a of theplatform 562 is arranged at a position where the second opening 562 amay communicate with a first opening 521 a of the robot cleaner 520.Dust discharged through the first opening 521 a of the robot cleaner 520may be introduced into the second opening 562 a of the platform 562, andis then stored in a second dust box 594 of the maintenance station 560.In this case, the second opening 562 a of the platform 562 may be largerthan the first opening 521 a of the robot cleaner 520.

The dust removal unit 590 may be installed at the housing 561. The dustremoval unit 590 may discharge dust stored in the first dust box 543 ofthe robot cleaner 520 into the second dust box 594 of the maintenancestation 560, to empty the first dust box 543. Thus, the dust removalunit 590 may maintain desired cleaning performance of the robot cleaner520.

The dust removal unit 590 may include a pump unit 591, a suction duct592, a first discharge duct 593 a, a second discharge duct 593 b, a portassembly 600, and a suction/discharge dual tube 200, in addition to thesecond dust box 594. The dust removal unit 590 functions to force airdischarged from the first and second discharge ducts 593 a and 593 b tobe sucked back into the suction duct 592. Using such a circulating airflow, the dust removal unit 590 removes dust stored in the first dustbox 543 of the robot cleaner 520.

The suction duct 592 may be installed at a suction side of the pump unit591. The first and second discharge ducts 593 a and 593 b may beinstalled at a discharge side of the pump unit 591. The port assembly600 may be separably mounted to the second opening 562 a. The portassembly 600 communicates with the suction duct 592, first dischargeduct 593 a, and second discharge duct 593 b.

The port assembly 600 may include a suction port forming member 610, afirst discharge port forming member 621, a second discharge port formingmember 622, a third discharge port forming member 623, a fourthdischarge port forming member 624, and a brush cleaning member 630.

The suction port forming member 610 divides the suction duct 592 intotwo portions, which form first and second suction ports 592 a and 592 b,respectively. First spacers 610 a and 610 b are formed at a lowersurface of the suction port forming member 610. The first spacers 610 aand 610 b function to space the suction port forming member 610 from thebottom of the housing 561.

Air or dust introduced into the first suction port 592 a flows towardthe suction duct 592 along an upper surface of the suction port formingmember 610. Air or dust introduced into the second suction port 592 bflows toward the suction duct 592 along a lower surface of the suctionport forming member 610. The dust is subsequently stored in the seconddust box 594 of the maintenance station 560.

The first discharge port forming member 621 and second discharge portforming member 622 divide the first discharge duct 593 a, into twoportions, which form first and second discharge ports 593 a′ and 593 a″,respectively. On the other hand, the third discharge port forming member623 and fourth discharge port forming member 624 divide the seconddischarge duct 593 b, into two portions, which form third and fourthdischarge ports 593 b′ and 593 b″, respectively.

Air discharged through the first discharge port 593 a′ and thirddischarge port 593 b′ is fed to a large dust box 543 a of the robotcleaner 520, whereas air discharged through the second discharge port593 a″ and fourth discharge port 593 b″ is fed to a small dust box 543 bof the robot cleaner 520. The first discharge port 593 a′ and thirddischarge port 593 b′ directly face the large dust box 543 a.Accordingly, air discharged through the first discharge port 593 a′ andthird discharge port 593 b′ is fed to the large dust box 543 a whilepassing through the brush unit 541 at high flow rate.

However, the second discharge port 593 a″ and fourth discharge port 593b″ do not directly fact the small dust box 543 b. For this reason, airdischarged through the second discharge port 593 a″ and fourth dischargeport 593 b″ is guided by a brush drum 540 a, to be fed to the small dustbox 543 b. When the brush unit 541 rotates in a counterclockwisedirection in FIG. 18, air discharged through the second discharge port593 a″ and fourth discharge port 593 b″ may be more smoothly fed to thesmall dust box 543 b.

The first discharge port 593 a′ and third discharge port 593 b′ arearranged at opposite longitudinal (or lateral) ends of the secondopening 562 a, namely, opposite side regions of the second opening 562a, respectively. Also, the second discharge port 593 a″ and fourthdischarge port 593 b″ are arranged at opposite longitudinal (or lateral)ends of the second opening 562 a, namely, opposite side regions of thesecond opening 562 a, respectively. On the other hand, the firstdischarge port 593 a′ and second discharge port 593 a″ are arranged atopposite ends of the second opening 562 a in a width (forward orbackward) direction in one side region of the second opening 562 a,respectively. Also, the third discharge port 593 b′ and fourth dischargeport 593 b″ are arranged at opposite ends of the second opening 562 a inthe width (forward or backward) direction in the other side region ofthe second opening 562 a, respectively. Thus, the first discharge port593 a′ to fourth discharge port 593 b″ are arranged at respective cornerregions of the second opening 562 a.

Meanwhile, second spacers 622 a and 624 a are formed at side walls ofthe second discharge port forming member 622 and fourth discharge portforming member 624, respectively. The second spacers 622 a and 624 afunction to prevent the port assembly 600 from being biased toward oneside of the second opening 562 a.

Thus, the second suction port 592 b may be formed to have a structuresurrounding the first suction port 592 a, first discharge port 593 a′,second discharge port 593 a″, third discharge port 593 b′, and fourthdischarge port 593 b″. The area occupied by the first suction port 592 aand the first to fourth discharge ports 593 a′, 593 a″, 593 b′, and 593b″ corresponds to the area of the first opening 521 a of the robotcleaner 520. The second suction port 592 b may suck dust dispersedoutside the first opening 521 a of the robot cleaner 520 because it isarranged outside the first opening 521 a of the robot cleaner 520.

A cover 640 formed with a plurality of through holes 640 a may bemounted to the second suction port 592 a. In this case, dust dispersedoutside the first opening 521 a of the robot cleaner 520 may be suckedinto the second suction port 592 b through the through holes 640 a.Normally, the cover 640 prevents foreign matter having a large size fromentering the second suction port 592 a, thereby preventing the suctionpassage from becoming clogged.

The brush cleaning member 630 is formed at the suction port formingmember 610, to be protruded from the suction port forming member 610,and thus to come into contact with brushes 541 b of the brush unit 541.A plurality of brush cleaning members 630 may be installed to bearranged in a longitudinal direction of the suction port forming member610, as in the illustrated case. In the illustrated case, the brushcleaning members 630 are arranged in two rows in the longitudinaldirection of the suction port forming member 610. In another embodiment,a plurality of brush cleaning members 630 may be arranged in one row,two rows, or more.

The brush cleaning member 630 may include a guide 631 and a hook 632.

The guide 631 extends inclinedly with respect to a rotation direction ofthe brush unit 541. The hook 632 is protruded from a side surface of anend of the guide 631. When the brush unit 541 rotates, the brushes 541b, which are made of an elastic material, are inclined in the inclineddirection of the guide 631 while coming into contact with the guide 631.Accordingly, foreign matter, which may be hairs wound around the brushes541 b, may be caught by the hook 632 which, in turn, separates theforeign matter from the brushes 541 b.

Meanwhile, in another embodiment, a plurality of guides 631 may bearranged in a longitudinal direction of the suction port forming member610, and a plurality of hooks 632 may be protruded from side surfaces ofguides 631, respectively. The guides 631, which are arranged in thelongitudinal direction of the suction port forming member 610, may belaterally symmetrically arranged.

A plurality of suction/discharge dual tubes 200 may be provided at theplatform 562. The plural suction/discharge dual tubes 200 are arrangedat positions corresponding to a plurality of infrared sensors 552installed on a bottom of the robot cleaner 520. The concrete shape ofeach suction/discharge dual tubes 200 may be referred to the descriptiongiven with reference to FIG. 11.

Each suction/discharge dual tube 200 generates a suction air flow and adischarge air flow. Here, the suction air flow is an air flow introducedinto the housing 561 through a suction tube 292 communicating with thesuction duct 592, whereas the discharge air flow is an air flowoutwardly discharged from the housing 561 through a discharge tube 293communicating with the first discharge duct 593 a or second dischargeduct 593 b.

The infrared sensors 552 of the robot cleaner 520 may be cleaned by airflowing through the corresponding suction/discharge dual tubes 200,respectively. That is, air is blown to each infrared sensor 552 of therobot cleaner 520 through the discharge tube 293 of the correspondingsuction/discharge dual tube 200, to remove dust from the infrared sensor552, and the removed dust is then sucked through the suction tube 292 ofthe corresponding suction/discharge dual tube 200. The dust introducedinto the suction tube 292 is collected in the second dust box 594 of themaintenance station 560.

Thus, dust attached to each infrared sensor 552 is removed, so thatdesired sensing performance may be maintained. Since the dust removedfrom the infrared sensor 552 is sucked back without being dispersed, thesurroundings of the station 560 may be kept clean.

As apparent from the above description, the cleaning system according toeach of the illustrated embodiments may prevent the cleaning performanceof the robot cleaner from being degraded.

The cleaning system may also achieve a reduction in energy and materialcosts by circulating air between the robot cleaner and the maintenancestation.

The cleaning system may also easily achieve automatic dust discharge bydischarging dust through the opening of the robot cleaner.

The cleaning system may cut off dust dispersed during automatic dustdischarge, thereby keeping clean the surroundings of the maintenancestation.

The cleaning system also may clean the sensors using circulatingdischarge air, thereby preventing dust from dispersed around thesurroundings of the cleaning system.

Also, the cleaning system may effectively remove foreign matter wound onthe brush unit during automatic dust discharge.

Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown anddescribed, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in these embodiments without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A robot cleaner comprising: a body; a drivingunit to enable the body to autonomously travel about a region to becleaned, the driving unit including left and right driving wheels drivenby at least one motor, and a caster mounted to a front portion of thebottom of the body to maintain stability of the robot cleaner; at leastone sensor configured to detect an obstacle; a cleaning unit to cleanthe region to be cleaned, the cleaning unit including at least one brushunit and a fan unit; a dust box, to store dust at an inside of the dustbox, the dust box being detachably mounted to the body; and a dustsensing unit including a light emitting unit to transmit light and alight receiving sensor to sense the light transmitted by the lightemitting unit, the light emitting unit and the light receiving sensorbeing mounted on the body separately from and outside of the dust boxand configured to transmit light through the inside of the dust box,wherein the dust box is configured to be detached from the bodyseparately from the dust sensing unit mounted on the body, and thedriving unit, the at least one sensor, the cleaning unit, the dust box,and the dust sensing unit are positioned on or in the body of the robotcleaner.
 2. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein: the dustbox comprises at least one inlet, through which dust is introduced intothe dust box; and the light emitting unit and the light receiving sensorare provided at a portion of the body corresponding to the inlet of thedust box, to perform light transmission and light reception through theinside of the dust box at the inlet of the dust box, respectively. 3.The robot cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising: a displayprovided at the body, to display various information, wherein thedisplay unit displays dust sensing information from the dust sensingunit.
 4. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein no connectingterminal associated with the dust sensing unit is provided at the dustbox.
 5. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein, during operation of robotcleaner, dust travels along a dust collecting path and is introducedinto the dust box through an inlet of the dust box, and the lightemitted by the light emitting unit travels horizontally across the dustcollecting path.
 6. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the dust boxcomprises an inlet through which dust is introduced into the dust box,and the light emitted by the light emitting unit travels horizontallyacross the inlet of the dust box.
 7. The robot cleaner according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one brush unit includes at least one brushto sweep dust on a floor of the region to be cleaned.
 8. The robotcleaner according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the dust box ispositioned between the light emitting unit and the light receivingsensor.
 9. A robot cleaner comprising: a body; a driving unit to enablethe body to autonomously travel about a surface to be cleaned, thedriving unit including left and right driving wheels driven by at leastone motor, and a caster mounted to a front portion of the bottom of thebody to maintain stability of the robot cleaner; at least one sensorconfigured to detect an obstacle; a cleaning unit to clean the surfaceto be cleaned, the cleaning unit including at least one brush unit and afan unit; a dust box detachably mounted to the body, the dust boxincluding an interior where dust is stored; and a dust sensing unitinstalled to the body at a region other than the interior of the dustbox, wherein the dust sensing unit comprises a light emitting unit and alight receiving sensor, wherein light transmitted from the lightemitting unit reaches the light receiving sensor after passing throughthe interior of the dust box, wherein the dust box is configured to bedetached from the body separately from the dust sensing unit installedto the body, and wherein the driving unit, the at least one sensor, thecleaning unit, the dust box, and the dust sensing unit are positioned onor in the body of the robot cleaner.
 10. The robot cleaner according toclaim 9, wherein the light emitting unit and the light receiving sensorare installed so as to face each other.
 11. The robot cleaner accordingto claim 9, wherein the dust box comprises a transmitted-light passingportion arranged at a position corresponding to the light emittingsensor, to allow the light to enter the dust box, and a received-lightpassing portion arranged at a position corresponding to the lightreceiving sensor, to allow the light to emerge from the dust box. 12.The robot cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the transmitted-lightpassing portion and the received-light passing portion are made of atransparent material.
 13. The robot cleaner according to claim 9,wherein no connecting terminal associated with the dust sensing unit isprovided at the dust box.
 14. The robot cleaner of claim 9, wherein thedust box comprises an inlet through which dust is introduced into thedust box, and the light emitted by the light emitting unit travelshorizontally across the inlet.
 15. The robot cleaner according to claim9, wherein the at least one brush unit includes at least one brush tosweep dust on a floor of the surface to be cleaned.
 16. The robotcleaner according to claim 9, wherein the region faces a portion of thedust box when the dust box is mounted to the body.
 17. The robot cleaneraccording to claim 9, wherein a portion of the dust box is positionedbetween the light emitting unit and the light receiving sensor.